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How to Make a Terrarium

July 24, 2017
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Learning how to make a terrarium for your snake, gecko or other reptilian or amphibian friend is fairly easy. Depending on your budget, it can range from a simple, small cage to one that takes up an entire wall (or two). The most important thing to always remember is to take into consideration your particular pet’s habitat needs and individual temperament.

Check out the terrarium tips below for your snake, spider, frog or lizard.

Snakes

If you think about where you find snakes in the wild, they’re rarely just hanging out in the open, unless they’re sunning. Snakes love cozy hiding spaces, so make sure your snake terrarium has a dark corner or two. You can always buy a snake hiding spot, or you can make your own out of Plaster of Paris or a plastic bowl.

Just like their natural environment, a snake habitat should also include water and vegetation. A bigger tree in the terrarium is a nice bonus for a larger snake.

Spiders

Just like snakes, spiders love cozy, dark hiding spots like rocks and plants. Even if you can’t get the real ones, plastic should be just fine. Depending on the size of your spider, a large aquarium with some soil on the bottom makes a perfect home. Do a bit of research into the type of spider you’re purchasing, especially tarantulas, as this determines the size of enclosure. Some tarantulas may be seriously hurt if they fall too far and require longer, shorter spider habitats.

Always remember to have only one tarantula in each terrarium as they are known to be highly predatory and protective, and may attack each other.

Frogs

Frogs require a bit of a different habitat than spiders and snakes, since half of a frog’s life is spent in water and half on land (most species). Since smaller frogs make good pets, the habitat doesn’t have to be very big. What they do need is lots of vegetation (can be real or fake), and proper temperature/humidity. Keep the habitat out of direct sunlight and the temperature hovering around 23 degrees or so for happy, healthy frogs.

Lizards

Most lizards love the sunlight! If you’re not in a position to be able to offer your pet lizard a lot of natural sunlight, invest in a terrarium able to handle temperature and humidity equipment. The wrong temperature could make your pet very sick and vitamin deficient.

Lizards are either ground or tree dwellers. Tree dwellers need higher cages, while ground dwelling lizards need lower, longer terrariums, much like the tarantula. Check out Pinterest for a plethora of ideas for both types. There are even habitats made from repurposed cabinets that would fit right into your home interior.

If you’ve been wondering how to build a terrarium for your pet, we hope this article has you excited about the process. If researched correctly, owning an exotic pet can be a rewarding and exciting venture.

For more information on exotic pets, check out the Canadian Pet Expo – Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership.

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